What's in a name: Normal Hall

The Normal Hall Clock Tower on the campus of Edinboro University in Edinboro, photographed on Jan. 3. GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

January 9, 2012 12:01 AM

Where is it?

The Normal Hall Clock Tower is in the northwestern corner of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania's campus in Edinboro. Normal Street also is in the northwestern corner of the campus.

What's the story?

The northwestern section of Edinboro University's campus is clearly normal. But behind Normal Street and Normal Hall Clock Tower, there's a name -- and not a bold statement of conformity.

The Edinboro Normal School was established in 1857 as a private institution for training teachers. It also wasn't the first or only "normal" school. Such schools came from the French term "école normale." The first teacher-training school so named was originally meant to be a model for other schools, according to Britannica.com.

Edinboro University's name has changed several times since, from the Edinboro State Teachers College to the Edinboro State College and, finally, its current name.